To lock my DD's bike to a telegraph pole outside our house?

[SummerDays2020]

We live in a mid terrace house with no front garden. I'm disabled and struggle to lift my DD's bike from the back garden to the front of the house in order for her to use it. She uses it regularly. So I decided to lock it to a telegraph pole that is between mine and my neighbours house. It's been there over a year.

When I left for the school run this afternoon neighbour was out putting a bag of rubbish near the telegraph pole. Not bin day. Anyway, she asked if it was my bike and I said yes. She then asked if I could move it as it had become a 'dumping ground' - I thought she might mean as there were a number of white sacks around the telegraph pole and told her 'it's only the bike that's mine not all the rubbish' she said 'I know - can you move it? It's a nightmare!'

My question is am I allowed to have it chained to the telegraph pole? What problem could it be causing her? (I couldn't speak longer as had to leave) I don't want to move it if possible as it means she will rarely be able to use it. I kind of feel if neighbour can 'dump' her car on the road my DD should be able to 'dump' her bike too! But I don't know the legalities which of course I would follow.

Just to add when I first did it I came out a few times when neighbours parked near it to ask if it was in their way and also spoke to BT engineers all who said it was no problem being there.

Have I understood correctly that you would store it in the back garden but you won't wheel it through your house to get it to the front for your daughter to cycle away on, you want it to be carried through your house instead, because you think it is dirty? Couldn't you make sure it was clean, both of you and wheel it in and out, like you would a pram? Unless DD is out mountain biking and it comes home filthy with mud and dog muck and it needs hosing off it shouldn't be so dirty as to be a problem? Making carrying it through the house the problem, not storage in the back garden? Her bikes will only get bigger as she grows up. Sorry if I've misunderstood.

So it attaches to your ceiling? Would have to check tall people wouldn't knock their head on it! I'll look in to it. I always thought it would be really dirty keeping a bike in your house, but I suppose you give it a good clean or something before you bring it in?

Where do you keep your bins and put those out? My DGF lived in a terrace and that had an alley every 4/5 houses that let you access in and out of the back yards. Even back to back terraces usually have an alleyway between them for bins and access to/from the back yards.
My friend lives in a terrace and has right of way for access across her neighbours gardens.

No, they can't but DD was delighted with it! Yes, she uses it for school.

I think it would be best to find somewhere to store it inside for her sake then. I imagine she'd be really upset if it got stolen or damaged.

OP given you are disabled and DD has hyper mobility are you entitled to some kind of assessment to get a) a solution and b) potentially funding? The council may even issue a cycle park permit and formally authorise it being chained to the telegraph pole( although they will not own the pole) in which case the NB will just have to get on with it

This the idea of the upright bike stand. It takes less floor space up.

Maybe the dirt issue is exaggerated in my mind. As it is wet a lot it would leave dirt on the floors which isn't so easy for me to clean. And the bike not so easy either! As I'm disabled it is difficult too as I have to lift it up the stairs from my kitchen to sitting room which is hard. I just don't think I'd manage every morning before walking to school.

I don't have bins, just put out sacks.

However there is a right of way at the back of the houses but unfortunately it is full of people's rubbish or something have extended their garden into the alley. The alleyway has a gate and lock.

I have a tiny sitting room and small kitchen, a bedroom and bathroom, there is no where to put it.

Thank you I will look into this.

I've lived in similar sized properties and the bikes were attached to the walls.

If this was in the area I live in someone could report it to the local council as abandoned, the bike would then have a notice put on it saying ring xxxxx if this is your bike and if no one calls it would be taken away in 2 week.

As you would see this and call them to explain it's your bike they would give you 2 week to remove it (if they were generous) and if you didn't remove it, it would get taken away.

Technically it's fly tipping, doesn't matter what it is, you have left an item on a public footpath, the council could just take it away without informing you if they really wanted.

Aye right it will…….bike thieves round here walk round with angle grinders and will be through any lock in seconds! I have what’s supposedly the highest level of security bike lock and my friend with the same one had their bike stolen from inside a locked bike shed at work.

I understand, but I have already said I wouldn't be able to lift it onto the wall.

It would have to go above the fireplace which would mean lifting it quite high. The pulley system and keeping it on the ceiling may work.

And yet they want DC cycling to school not going in cars! The cars can all be 'flytipped' out the front! 😂

Luckily this doesn't really happen here. Had no problems atall.

I've looked on the council website and as I thought they are pretty pro cycling! Don't think I need to worry about them just coming along and stealing it, at least! 😂 I'll give them a call next week and see what they suggest!

Not sure about the council issue but i wouldn't have thought BT/Openreach would be ok with this. The engineers test that the poles are safe before climbing, and that could mean the bike would get damaged, not to mention they may not be able to put ladders up to climb it safely with a foreign object attached to it.

As I said in my OP I have spoken to them about this and they're are absolutely fine with it.

As long as a double pram and a wheelchair can easily get past, just lock the bike to the pole. Bike beats bin bags any day of the week.

You don't need to lift the bike - you just clip it to the walls with the wheels still on the floor.

Personally so long as there is definitely enough space for wheelchairs to pass then I’d leave it there. Tell your neighbour you can’t think of another option, then just avoid her and make excuses to not talk to her. You said you Road is quiet so can’t imagine it obstructs much and it sounds like the rubbish being left out the front and back would be more of an eye sore.

I wouldn’t proactively ask the council about it either. That’s give the option of getting a no. If anyone contacts the council I’d cross that bridge when it come….but that’s only an IF, so might not even happen.

Inside or outside?

Inside. They were clipped to the walls in the living room (normally behind the sofas).